Disc-like platelet fabric

ABSTRACT

A fabric is described that can be used for decorative curtains or wall hangings clothing for children and dolls, and the like. The fabric is formed by releasably coupling together a multiplicity of platelets and are preferably of a laminated plastic having some regular geometric shape. Each platelet is perforated adjacent its periphery to enable connecting links to be inserted therethrough for releasably joining the platelets together to form the fabric. These connecting links are also preferably of plastic and usually have an enlarged end section which can be resiliently deformable to allow passage of the same through the perforations in the platelet and thus connect the platelets releasably together. Such connecting links alloy easy and rapid repairs to be made to broken or damaged platelets, as well as enabling various patterns to be designed into the fabric by rearranging the platelets according to shape and colouring.

Ju1y17,1973 CARON ETAL 3,746,602

msc-LIKE PLATELET FABRIC Filed June l0. 1971 23 Sheets-Smet 'l July17,1973 A. CARQLI am. 3,746,602

` DISC-LIKE PLATELET FABRIC Filed June`l0. 1971 I 2 Sheets-Shet 2 UnitedStates Patent O 3,746,602 DISC-LIKE PLATELET FABRIC Alberto Caroli, ViaMontessori 1, and Giovanni Giuffrida, Oilico Brevetti Dott. Prof. F.Cildgnn and C. Via

visconte di Modrone 14/A, both of Milan, Italy Filed .lune 10, 1971,Sel'. No. 151,799

Int. Cl. B32!) 3/10, 3/14 U.S. Cl. 161-37 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A fabric is described that can be used for decorativecurtains or wall hangings, clothing for children and dolls, and thelike. The fabric is formed by releasably coupling together amultiplicity of platelets and are preferably of a laminated plastichaving some regular geometric shape. Each platelet is perforatedadjacent its periphery to enable connecting links to be insertedtherethrough for releasably joining the platelets together to form thefabric. These connecting links are also preferably of plastic andusually have an enlarged end section which can be resiliently deformableto allow passage of the same through the perforations in the plateletand thus connect the platelets releasably together. Such connectinglinks allow easy and rapid repairs to be made to broken or damagedplatelets, as well as enabling various patterns to be designed into thefabric by rearranging the platelets according to shape and colouring.

This invention relates generally to fabrics and in particular to fabricsof the type which can be used for decorative wall hangings, curtainshaving common or unusual uses, for making articles of clothing forchildren or dolls, and the like. The fabric to be described below ismade up from modules in the form of discs or platelets that arereleasably coupled together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of fabric are known today,being useful for a wide variety of applications. Fabrics that are usedfor special-effect curtains in many public places, for example, are madefrom chain-like strands of metal, coils of wire, and so on. Other moreconventional fabrics made from materials commonly used in the textiletrade can be made by different types of weaving, different types ofmaterial and by using different colours. These fabrics tend, however, tosuffer from one common problem. They are difficult to repair easily andin the event that a change in colour or pattern is desired, it can oftenbe extremely diicult if not entirely impossible to make such a change ina manner that is satisfactory to most people. A person would not, forinstance, be inclined to unravel or take apart a curtain or article ofclothing woven from a conventional textile yarn simply because adifferent weave pattern or colour scheme was Wanted. Similarly, toattempt to unravel a special-effect curtain or a replace screen, forexample, that is sometimes made from interconnected coils of wire wouldvirtually never be attempted by a homeowner or apartment dweller.

It will also be recognized that where special-effect curtains are usedon apartment balconies and terraces for privacy; providing shade fromthe sun, or the like, such curtains are prone to discolouring anddeterioration due to corrosive elements in the atmosphere. Thisdiscolouring is frequently caused by ultraviolet light derived fromsunlight.

Additional ditliculties can often arise if the surroundings are of aslightly irregular shape, or larger or smaller than the fabric orcurtain material originally planned for use in that location. Such aproblem is accentuated whenever a person moves from one home to anotherand wishes to keep the same curtains, for instance, for reuse. For allpractical purposes it is usually impossible to find a new cloth whichhas the same colour and consistency as the fabric already being used andhence in those instances when the area to be covered is larger in a newplace, it becomes extremely diicult to reuse the old fabric.

It will further be recognized that where childrens clothing or dollsclothing is involved, the children sometimes amuse themselves bycreating articles of clothing of their own shape and design. The use ofscissors, needles and pins, or the like, is at best dangerous for youngchildren and hence the inability to change the colouring or pattern is asignificant deterrent to the creative efforts of the child. This isespecially so when various fabrics are joined together, say by gluing orsome other technique which docs not allow for the easy and quickreplacement or repair of parts of the fabric, when and where desired.

SUMMARY `OF THE INVENTION In contrast to the foregoing, the presentinvention provides an improved fabric material which overcomes any ofthe problems and deficiencies just mentioned. Contrary to prior artarrangements, the present invention provides a fabric which can readilybe altered to provide a wide variety of patterns, colour schemes, shapesand sizes for the area to be covered, and so on. The improved fabric tobe described below utilizes modular units in the form of discs orplatelets of any desired shape and in a wide variety of colours. Theseplatelets or discs are releasably coupled together to form a fabricwhich has a selected pattern incorporated therein either by virtue ofusing platelets of different shapes and/or colours joined together in apreselected format. The platelets are coupled together for easy removalor separation of individual platelets by means of connecting links, thatare preferably in the form of U-shaped bars which usually have anenlarged end section. Each platelet is provided with apertures orperforations which are of a size to allow passage of the enlargedportions through the same, thus permitting the platelets or discs to bereleasably coupled together. It will be recognized that especially whenchildren are attempting to make up articles of clothing either forthemselves or for dolls, for instance, a fabric made up from plateletsthat are releasably coupled together will have particular appeal. Thechildren can satisfy their creative inclinations by simply replacingplatelets at will by uncoupling those platelets which they seek tochange and substitute other platelets instead.

There is accordingly provided a fabric for use as a curtain panel, wallhanging, wearing apparel or the like comprising in combination amultiplicity of disc-like platelets of any one of a variety of geometricshapes, said platelets being of a laminated plastic; a plurality ofperforations provided in each of the platelets at a position adjacentthe periphery of the same; and connecting linking elements in the formof bars, said bars having two enlarged end portions that are resilientlydeformable to enable passage of the same through said perforations,thereby releasably interconnecting the platelets together to form saidfabric.

There is also provided a method of manufacturing a fabric that isadapted for use in garments and wearing apparel, decorative curtainpanels and the like, characterized in that there is provided amultiplicity of disc-like platelets, said platelets having perforationstherein; inserting connecting linking elements through said perforationsin the platelets for releasably joining the same together; and joiningtogether the platelets to form the fabric to a selected format.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fabric whichcan be altered or repaired very easily and in a manner not possibleusing prior art constructions.

It is also an object herein to provide a method of producing such animproved fabric, especially for use in applications where pattern orcolour changes are frequently desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and featuresof this invention will become apparent from the detailed descriptionbelow, especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying,illustrative drawings. In those drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing schematically platelets or discs ofvarious shapes intended for use in the fabric described herein;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate schematically different applications for afabric manufactured from the platelets of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate schematically two patterns that would be formedby joining together square or circular platelets of the type to bedescribed herein; and,

FIGS. 7 and. 8 are side elevation views showing schematically two typesof connecting links which can be used to releasably couple together aseries of the platelets shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings,FIG. 1 shows a variety of modular units in the form of discs orplatelets 10 each having a plurality of apertures 12 provided therein.The platelets or discs 10 can be any one of the regular geometric shapesshown in FIG. l, or alternatively, any other geometric shape that mightbe desired. Shapes that are of a regular geometric form would bepreferred especially from a manufacturers point of view since they wouldbe easier and cheaper to produce. The discs or platelets 10 can be madefrom a variety of materials. Steel or aluminum metal coated with anenamel that has been baked thereon can be used in some instances. On theother hand, the platelets 10 could be manufactured from a wide varietyof polymeric matrix materials which are well known in the plastics art.Depending upon the intended use of the fabric ultimately to be made fromthe platelets 10, the polymeric matrix material could have a variety ofadditives incorporated therein. Such additives could be for purposes ofcolour, opacity to light, for providing special qualities of strengthand stability, for preventing atmospheric corrosion or deterioration dueto ultraviolet light or oxidizing agents in the atmosphere, or the like.It will also be preferable to use a non-toxic material to make upplatelets 10 that are intended for use by children in making fabrics forarticles of clothing either for themselves or for dolls or the like.Colouring can be the same or different on opposite sides of eachplatelet.

Each of the platelets 10 has a peripheral side edge shown at 14. Theapertures 12 are located on each of the platelets 10 generally adjacentthe edge 14 so as to enable a multiplicity of the platelets to becoupled together, for example, in any one of the forms illustratedschematically in FIGS. 2, 3 or 4. Many other variations in theapplication of the fabric made up from such platelets 10 will becomeapparent to the reader.

The platelets 10 can be releasably coupled together in the mannersuggested in FIGS. S and 6. There, it will be seen that a connectinglink 16 extends through one of the apertures 12 in the platelets 10 toreleasably secure such platelets together. Two types of connecting meansare shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, the linking element or bar 16 isinitially U-shaped with an enlarged end portion 18 being provided on thefree ends of the arms of the U. These enlarged end portions 18 may beresiliently deformable and preferably have a maximum cross-sectionalarea that is equal to the area of the perforations 12. It will be seenfrom FIG. 7 that platelets 10 can be coupled together by inserting theenlarged end portions 18 through the perforations 12 and if desired insome instances, bending such ends over to secure the platelets togethermore rmly. In that latter instance, the linking element 16 will ofcourse have to be of a bendable or exible material. These elements orbars 16 are preferably made of a plastic. In coupling various platelets10 together, it is usual to insert an enlarged end portion 18 of eachlinking element 16 through perforations 12 by applying a force orpressure that is coaxial with the perforations 12. After passage of theenlarged end portion 18 through perforations 12, the former can be bentover.

It will also be apparent that the linking element 16 can still beU-shaped but not provided with the enlarged end portions 18. Such anarrangement is shown in FIG. 8 where it is also to be noted the freeends of the U have been bent over to securely couple two platelets 10together.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that numerousplatelets 10 that are of any selected pattern as regards colour, shapeor material can readily be joined together quickly and with a minimum ofeffort. Indeed, repairs, variations in the pattern design, alterationsin the shape of the area being covered by the fabric made up fromplatelets 10, or the like, can be effected in a manner which can satisfythe creative tendencies of a child or even an older person. Hence, itwill be appreciated that use of the fabric made up from interconnectinga multiplicity of platelets 10 together in the form of particles ofclothing for, say, young children or dolls will have considerable appealto children. Even Irnore importantly, the changes and modificationsmentioned above can be easily effected even by a young child and withoutthe necessity of scissors, pins and the like being provided for thechild. Accordingly, the fabrics and cloths obtained by utilizingdifferent modular elements such as the platelets 10 can readily beaccomplished merely by providing hooking or linking elements such as thebars 16 which are inserted through the perforations 12, and ifnecessary, suitably bent back. The ends of these bars 16 can be bent byexerting manual pressure. It is therefore possible to link or jointogether numerous platelets 10 in such a way as, for instance, to form agarment or article of clothing endowed with a shape corresponding to thebody of the person or doll that is intended to wear it. Due to theelasticity, bendability, or resiliently deformable nature of thematerial from which the connecting elements 16 are made, individualplatelets 10 can be quickly and easily uncoupled and again connectedtogether so as to form a fabric or article of clothing having adifferent shape or pattern. This operation can of course be carried outan indefinite number of times. Moreover, it is important to note thataccidental disengagement of individual platelets is virtuallyimpossible.

The foregoing has described some preferred embodiments of the inventionset forth herein. It will be apparent that numerous modifications willbe envisaged by the reader. All such modifications as will be obvious tothose skilled in this art are contemplated to be encompassed by thespirit of this invention as dened by the claims below.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A fabric comprising a multiplicity of disc-like platelets, being of aselected geometric shape having a plurality of apertures provided ineach platelet adjacent the periphery thereof; and

connecting linking elements linking said platelets together andreleasably separable from the platelets to form the fabric the linkingelements each being in the form of a bar having two enlarged endportions releasably engaged through said apertures, the enlarged endportions having a maximum cross-sectional area approximately equal tothe varea of said apertures and being resiliently deformable to enablepassage through said apertures, the linking elements being bendable tocause said platelets to be connected together substantially in a commonplane.

2. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said bars are made of a plastic andare U-shaped, said enlarged end portions being at the free end of eachof the arms of the U.

3. The fabric of claim 1, wherein each enlarged end portion has amaximum cross-sectional area that is equal to the area of each of theperforations provided in said platelets.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein each of said platelets is made ofa metal having a coloured coating baked thereon resistant to corrosioncaused by atmospheric conditions.

6 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the platelets are each made ofa non-toxic plastic material opaque to sunlight.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,021,804 4/1912 Schneider 2-2.53,662,404 5/ 1972 Schinker 2-243 R WILLIAM J. VAN BALEN, PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R.

